AMD Opteron 6274 vs Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 and AMD Opteron 6274 are both end-of-life server/workstation processors, but they represent vastly different design philosophies and eras. The data shows the Xeon E3-1220 v5, a 4-core Skylake part from 2015, consistently edges out the 16-core Bulldozer-based Opteron from 2011 in every recorded benchmark, despite the Opteron’s massive core-count advantage. This analysis walks through the head-to-head results, architectural differences, and the specific use cases where each processor’s strengths manifest.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data is remarkably one-sided. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 wins every single matchup, securing 6 wins to 0 for the AMD Opteron 6274. The margins are narrow, but they are consistent and present in both single-core and multi-core workloads.

In multi-core tests, the Xeon’s advantage is slight but uniform. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 488 against the Opteron’s 483, a delta of 1%. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Xeon’s 2034 beats the Opteron’s 2014 by 1%, and in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Xeon’s 4845 tops the Opteron’s 4796 by 1%. The consistency of this 1% edge across three generations of the Cinebench test suggests a stable performance relationship that is independent of the specific workload intensity.

Single-core results follow a similar trajectory, though the deltas are even smaller. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, both processors score exactly 68, resulting in a 0% delta and a nominal win for the Xeon. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, the Xeon scores 287 versus the Opteron’s 284, a 1.1% delta. The Xeon also leads in Cinebench R23 singlecore with 684 against 677, a 1% delta. These numbers indicate that despite the Opteron’s 16 cores, it cannot overcome the Xeon’s superior per-core efficiency, even in tests that traditionally favor higher core counts.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall parity. The Xeon E3-1220 v5 has an average benchmark score of 1401, while the Opteron 6274 sits at 1387. Both processors occupy the 37th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier. The Xeon’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2104G (average score 1402, delta 0%) and the Intel Core i5-6500TE (1399, 0.1%), while the Opteron’s rivals include the Intel Core i3-9100TE (1386, 0.1%) and the AMD Opteron 6238 (1383, 0.3%). This clustering shows that both parts perform near the median of the database, but the Xeon holds a slight, repeatable edge in every direct comparison.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two processors explains the benchmark results. The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 uses the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. It packs 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Opteron 6274, in contrast, uses AMD’s Bulldozer architecture on a 32 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. It offers 16 cores and 16 threads, but with a lower base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz.

The cache hierarchies are fundamentally different. The Xeon E3-1220 v5 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Opteron 6274 has 768 KB of shared L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per module, with 8 MB of L3 cache per die. The Opteron’s design uses a dual-die configuration, which is reflected in its die size of 2x 315 mm², versus the Xeon’s single 122 mm² die. The Opteron also has more transistors (2,400 million total) compared to the Xeon (1,750 million), but the Xeon achieves better performance with fewer resources.

Memory support differs significantly. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus, delivering 34.1 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Opteron supports only DDR3, but over a quad-channel bus, delivering 51.2 GB/s. This gives the Opteron a theoretical memory bandwidth advantage of roughly 50%, which could matter in bandwidth-sensitive workloads, though the benchmark data does not show that translating into Cinebench wins. Both processors support ECC memory, making them suitable for server reliability requirements. The Xeon uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Opteron uses the older PCIe Gen 2.

The sockets are incompatible: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Opteron uses AMD Socket G34. The Xeon was released on 2015-10-18, with a launch MSRP of $203. The Opteron was released on 2011-11-13, with a launch MSRP of $639. The Xeon’s part number is SR2LG, and the Opteron’s is OS6274WKTGGGU. Both are marked as end-of-life production status.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 wins in every measured category. It leads in all six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across R15, R20, and R23 versions. The Xeon’s wins are consistent, with deltas ranging from 0% (in R15 singlecore) to 1.1% (in R20 singlecore). For workloads that rely on Cinebench-style rendering performance, the Xeon is the better choice, even if the margin is slim.

The AMD Opteron 6274, despite losing every head-to-head test, still holds theoretical advantages in specific areas. Its quad-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth is a significant specification advantage over the Xeon’s dual-channel 34.1 GB/s. For applications that are memory-bandwidth-bound rather than compute-bound, the Opteron’s architecture could offer benefits, although the Cinebench results do not reflect this. Additionally, the Opteron’s 16 cores may be better suited for highly parallel workloads that scale beyond the Xeon’s 4 threads, though the benchmark data shows the Xeon still wins in multi-core Cinebench tests.

The Opteron also has a higher TDP of 115 watts versus the Xeon’s 80 watts, which means it consumes more power but also has more thermal headroom for sustained operation in dense server environments. The Xeon’s smaller process node (14 nm vs 32 nm) and lower TDP suggest better power efficiency, which is a practical advantage for data center deployment.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 should be the pick for anyone prioritizing raw Cinebench performance. It wins every single head-to-head benchmark, with the largest margin being 1.1% in Cinebench R20 singlecore. The Xeon achieves this with only 4 cores and 4 threads, demonstrating that its Skylake architecture’s per-core efficiency more than compensates for the Opteron’s 16-core count. For workloads similar to Cinebench rendering, the Xeon is the superior choice.

However, the AMD Opteron 6274 has its own rationale. Its 16 cores and quad-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth make it a more attractive option for systems that need to handle many concurrent threads or memory-heavy tasks, even if the Cinebench scores do not show a win. The Opteron also comes from a different socket platform (G34), which may be preferable for existing AMD server infrastructure. From a pure performance-per-dollar standpoint based on launch MSRP, the Xeon at $203 is dramatically cheaper than the Opteron at $639, but both are end-of-life, so that pricing is historical.

For a new deployment based on benchmark data, the Xeon E3-1220 v5 is the clear winner. For a legacy upgrade path or a workload that exploits memory bandwidth and core count, the Opteron 6274 remains a viable, if slower, option. The choice hinges on whether the 1% performance edge or the 16-core/quad-channel configuration matters more to the specific use case.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 wins with a score of 4845, versus the AMD Opteron 6274’s 4796, a 1% delta.

Q: What is the single-core score difference in Cinebench R15?

A: Both processors score exactly 68 in Cinebench R15 singlecore, resulting in a 0% delta, with the Xeon E3-1220 v5 listed as the nominal winner.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD Opteron 6274 has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 has a dual-channel memory bus with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Opteron 6274 has a quad-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 and the AMD Opteron 6274 support ECC memory.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 has an average benchmark score of 1401, while the AMD Opteron 6274 has an average score of 1387.

Specification Differences

This section lists only the fields where the two processors differ.

| Specification | Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 | AMD Opteron 6274 |

|----------------|------------------------|-------------------|

| Cores | 4 | 16 |

| Threads | 4 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| TDP | 80 W | 115 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket G34 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Bulldozer |

| Codename | Skylake-DT | Interlagos |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,750 million | 2,400 million |

| Die Size | 122 mm² | 2x 315 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 768 KB (shared) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 2 MB (per module) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 8 MB (per die) |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Release Date | 2015-10-18 | 2011-11-13 |

| Launch MSRP | $203 | $639 |

| Part Number | SR2LG | OS6274WKTGGGU |